Raheem Sterling carved himself a niche in Liverpool's football history by becoming their second youngest player - after Michael Owen - to score at the highest level.

The Jamaican-born winger, who will not be 18 until December 8, provided the clinical finish to a superbly chipped pass from Luis Suarez in the 29th minute.

If the goal underlined the wisdom of former manager Rafa Benitez's acquisition when he paid Queens Park Rangers an initial £600,000, rising to a possible £5million, for a kid who was then just two months past his 15th birthday, it also prevented the focus of the Merseysiders' first home league win of the season falling on controversial Uruguay striker Suarez.

Give youth a chance: Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for Liverpool to secure a vital home win

Such is the gallows humour of the Kop,
they led a minute-long standing ovation when Roger East booked Kaspars
Gorkss for bringing down Suarez in the 38th minute.

But the referee got the full
confrontational treatment from Steven Gerrard and Co when he failed to
award Suarez another free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

The South American, tumbling under
another challenge from Gorkss, appeared to be caught on the thigh by the
Latvian defender's knee and it was enough for him to limp
disconsolately off the pitch at the interval, giving every indication
that his afternoon's work could be over.

But Suarez was still there at the end,
even if the injury looked to have taken the edge off his pace. He even
managed a wry smile when he was clearly fouled in injury-time by Adrian
Mariappa, who earned himself a yellow card.

It is a pity that when anybody thinks
of Suarez, they regard his talent for going to ground as being more
conspicuous than his superb vision, brilliant passing and ceaseless
workrate.

When he was on his feet, he showed
little signs of his 14,000-mile round trip playing for Uruguay against
Bolivia three days earlier. The chances he missed, and there were
several, were the only blemish on a performance of the highest merit.

Red leaves them dead: Sterling outpaced the Reading defence and blasted home with aplomb

For Brendan Rogers, these overdue
three points - only Liverpool's third home league win in 14 matches this
year - was a satisfying poke in the eye for Reading, the club who
dispensed of his services after barely six months in charge just before
Christmas in 2009.

And his former club did not make it
easy, causing many anxious moments in the home defence in the closing
stages after Gareth McCleary wasted a great chance of an equaliser in
the 53rd minute.

Rodgers revealed that Suarez had
needed extensive treatment at halftime for a dead leg and said: 'He was
again fantastic today. He got back late Thursday, trained Friday morning
and then still goes out and runs and works and gives his all for the
team. He didn't want to come off. He's an incredible character.

Young at heart: Fresh from signing a new deal, Suso produced the goods for Brendan Rodgers

Tumble and fall: Luis Suarez was a constant nuisance and there was no sign of his theatrics

'He missed some chances and he'll want
to be a wee bit more clinical in his finishing, but going forward we
need to get players around him who will take the load off him as well.'

Rodgers had a special word of praise
for Sterling, declaring: 'I am very pleased for him. It's a part of his
game we've been working on. It was a wonderful finish because he was
going away from the goal and he has a quick defender tracking him and he
finishes it really well across the keeper. He's a terrific talent.

Head for heights: Nuri Sahin continued to adapt to life in England and was given a hard time

Ticking it over: Despite Mikele Leigertwood's efforts, Joe Allen was able to dominate the pace in midfield

'We should have had three points here
long before today. But on the back of an international break and players
travelling all around the world, I though it was a terrific
performance. We need to improve our finishing - we had 19 shots at goal -
but as long as we get the three points and keep a clean sheet, I am
delighted.'

Reading boss Brian McDermott was
aggrieved at leaving Anfield without any reward. 'We can take a lot of
positives out of the game. I honestly thought we deserved a point. We've
only been out of the game once this season, against Tottenham, and we
were definitely in this one.'